On Thursday, June 9, 2011 the World Report on Disability was released in New York. The numbers were staggering. Over 1 billion people worldwide are believed to have disabilities, a full 15% of the world population. In 1970, the estimate was 10%. The increase is credited to improved reporting and information gathering techniques, as well as an aging population and an increase in chronic diseases.

But perhaps more significant than the new statistics is the report's emphasis on identifying physical, financial and attitudinal barriers that people with disabilities face, and offering best practices from around the world on how to overcome those barriers. It does an extensive job of identifying access to healthcare, rehabilitation, support and assistive services, education, and employment, as key issues that all countries must address.

USICD Executive Director was in New York for the Launch, and posted a blog post on his reactions to the report and the event on USICD's blog at:

USICD's education campaign supporting the Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) continues to reach new audiences and spread awareness of the treaty.

Last month, Executive Director David Morrissey travelled out to Kansas University where he presented two CRPD workshops, one to general faculty and students and the other to a research group at the Research and Training Center on Independent Living (RTCIL) led by Director and USICD board member Glen White.Continuing his dialogue with America's heartland on the CRPD, David also presented at the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) annual conference in St. Paul.In this half-day session, David was joined by Steve Eidelman, Professor of Human Services Policy and Leadership at the University of Delaware, and three self-advocates from Minnesota's ACT Network: Kelly Lee, Carrie Varner, and Peggy Mehan.Of the event, Varner said: "It's one thing to know your rights but it's another thing to know you deserve the rights and know how to advocate for them."

27 disabled peoples' organizations have been selected in the first round of applications to receive an eGranary unit that contains the Global Disability Rights Library. Click below to read a full list of selected organizations:

Disability rights advocates around the globe can now access a newly launched tool for finding the knowledge and toolkits they need: the Global Disability Rights Library (GDRL) at http://gdrl.org.A prototype "test" version of this library is being made available both on-line and off-line so that users can share feedback with the GDRL team on improving the library.

"We are excited to be able to begin sharing the prototype version of the Global Disability Rights Library with the public because we need everyone's help in making it an outstanding resource," says Andrea Shettle, GDRL program manager at USICD."Disability rights advocates, policy makers, and other stakeholders in developing countries deserve easier access to a rich body of digital knowledge.These websites, videos, and electronic publications can support their work in improving the lives of people with disabilities in developing countries.The GDRL is still very much a work in progress.We need disabled people's organizations, service providers, government personnel, families, and people with disabilities around the world to start using it and telling us how they want us to improve the library."

USICD is pleased to welcome two new interns who will be working with staff for the summer:

Rachel Garaghty comes to USICD as an intern for the Global Disability Rights Project. She is completing her Master of Public Policy degree at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota with concentrations in global policy and international development, and a minor in human rights. Rachel is very interested in bringing disability issues into mainstream international development agendas, as well as meaningfully incorporating more people with disabilities into development processes. As an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota, Rachel was actively involved with disability advocacy groups.

Jean de Dieu Mukunzi joins USICD as an AAPD Summer Intern. He is currently a graduate student at Wright State University in Public Health. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Clinical Psycology from the National University of Rwanda and a Certificate in Web Design from Laval University in Canada.

Jean de Dieu has served as a Youth Program Manager at Population Services International in Rwanda, where he worked to prevent HIV and STD transmission. He also worked as a Manager of the Internation Youth Foundation Employability Program in Rwanda where he delveloped and oversaw vocational training programs. He has worked as a webmaster and Awareness Coordinator for the Shyira Diocese in Rwanda and as a teacher of Information Technology and Computer Sciences.